WILMINGTON, NC – Senior Kaitlyn Nortz and Junior Branagan Fuller were among seven student-athletes from four institutions make up the 2008 North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) University Division All-State Volleyball Team, released Friday.
Highlighting the 2008 edition of the all-state squad is UNC Greensboro middle blocker Kaitlyn Nortz, who makes the team for the third consecutive season while 2007 all-state selections UNCG outside hitter Branagan Fuller, UNC Wilmington right side hitter Megan Nash and High Point setter Kristina Taylor return for their second appearance on the squad. Fuller and Nortz are one of three sets of teammates to make the squad as Taylor is joined by Panthers middle blocker Lindsey Raus while UNC Asheville teammates outside hitter Kelsey Benorden and defensive specialist Raquel Miotto round out the list.
Nortz, a native of Parma, OH, ended her prolific career at UNCG this past fall. She became the first player in school history to make the SoCon All-Conference team twice in her career after earning second-team all-conference honors following her senior season. She broke the school record for career blocks after totaling 560 total blocks in her four years as a Spartan. She also broke the school record for the most block assists in a four-game match with 10 against UT-Chattanooga. As the lone senior on the team, she tied the school record for total blocks in a three-game match with 11 against Samford on Senior Day. He 1.12 blocks per set average this season was good enough for third in the Southern Conference.
Fuller, from Murrieta, CA, played in all 33 matches this season for the Spartans and started a team-leading 32 matches. She was named a first-team All-SoCon selection for her efforts this past year. She averaged 3.14 kills per set, which was good enough for fifth in the conference. She was also second on the team in digs with 344 and had 22 aces this season.
NCCSIA selects all-state teams in the university (NCAA Division I) and college (Division II, III, NAIA) divisions for women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, softball and baseball. More than 650 student-athletes have been recognized on all-state teams since 2003.
2008 NCCSIA All-State Volleyball Team, University Division
Position
Name
Class
School
Hometown
Setter
Kristina
Taylor#
Senior
High
Point
Chandler , Ariz.
Middle
Blocker
Lindsey
Raus
Senior
High
Point
Wooster , Ohio
Middle
Blocker
Kaitlyn
Nortz